OWLS. 345 



a. Extreme length, thirty inches. General colors, cinere- 

 ous or ashy brown, and a paler shade. "Waved" above; 

 streaked on the breast ; barred on the belly, tail, primaries, 

 etc. 



b. One egg in Dr. Brewer's cabinet measures 2.25 X 1.78 

 of an inch. 



c. The Great Gray Owls exceed in size all other American 

 species, and stand no less than two feet high. They seem, 

 however, to be much less spirited than many others of their 

 tribe. Mr. Dall considers them very stupid, and states that 

 they may in day-time be caught by the hand. They are arc- 

 tic birds, and do not come to New England except as very 

 rare winter visitors. I observed one in some pine woods near 

 Milton, in the early part of 1875, towards the end of an ex- 

 ceptionally severe winter. He was roosting in a partially 

 dead tree, at about thirty feet from the ground. He instantly 

 perceived my approach, and watched me dreamily. He re- 

 fused to leave his perch until the tree was rapped violently, 

 upon which he started with a few silent flaps and sailed away. 

 Owing to his great size, and his wings spread to their full ex- 

 tent, he presented a formidable appearance. He did not seem 

 to have difficulty in finding his way among the trees. 



The Great Gray Owls, according to Mr. Pali's observations, 

 " feed principally upon small birds, and he took no less than 

 thirteen crania and other remains of ^Jgiothus linaria [or 

 Lesser Red-poll] from the crop of a single bird." 



d. Their notes have been described as tremulous, and not 

 unlike those of the Screech Owl. 



B. NEBULOSUM. Barred Owl. "Hoot Owl" A resi- 

 dent in Massachusetts throughout the year.* 



1890-91, when, throughout eastern England, said to breed commonly in 

 Maine, these Owls were killed in such Connecticut, but throughout Massa- 

 numbers that a single taxidermist (Mr. chusetts and to the northward found 

 Crosby of Bangor) received no less only very sparingly and more or less 

 than twenty-seven specimens. This locally, except in autumn and win- 

 flight extended, also, to eastern Mas- ter, when it sometimes appears in 

 sachusetts, where, however, only a few comparative abundance. These au- 

 birds were taken. W. B. tumnal flights are of irregular occur- 

 * A resident of the whole of New rence. W. B. 



